| Author | Post |
|---|
LightORamaJohn
One of your administrators
|
Here are the products to be delivered in August & September:
1) DIO32 32-channel digital controller with daughter boards. The DIO32 has four 8-port headers. Each 8-port header (8 channel group) is individually configurable as digital output(32 channels max), digital input(8 channels max), relay control(32 channels max), low power AC dimming(32 channels max), high power AC dimming (32 channels max). The daughter boards are: 8 channel SPDT relay, each relay 16 amps @120 vac; 16 channel dimming, 40 amps total @ 12/24/120/240 vac; 8 channel dimming, 60 amps total @ 120/240 vac; 16 channel connection daughter board for custom projects.
2) An isolated USB adapter. Completely isolates the PC from the network. Can be used for added protection but was developed for large scale installations with multiple LOR networks.
3) Network Repeater. Used to extend the network beyond 4,000' or to create network topologies other than a daisy chain. (Star networks, 'Y', ...)
4) 9 channel fountain controller. Controls up to 3 PMSM pumps and 6 channels of LED lighting. Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor pumps are the type most commonly used in fountains and ponds. Both pumps and lights controlled from barely on to full power. LOR plans to offer both submersible pumps and submersible LED lighting.
5)Chime-O-Matic. A 25 note catherdral chime system with 5 volume levels with full LOR control and 6 inputs. The inputs are two digital, two phone ring sense and two doorbell sense.
We have not yet gotten quantity price points for these products so I can't provide prices here. We will put each device on sale for the first week when it is introduced because we don't have the prices for a pre-order during the June sale.
There are other devices in various stages of development, but I am unwilling at this point to reveal any information about them until we can provide delivery dates.
__________________
Edit: Forgot to mention that the DIO32 has headers on it allowing 16 servos to be controlled by two of the 8-channel ports.
|
Mountainwxman
LOR II Beta Testers
|
Thank you John!
That's great news! 
|
sparky741
Member
|
<drooling heavily> YES!!! Even more things for a lighting maniac(like myself!) to buy! Woo-hoo!
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
I am very impressed. The fountain controller looks like so much fun!!
Greg
|
Denny
Member
|
August & September delivery, great. Gives me time to save up some more moola and still get them on sale!
|
Michael B
Member
|
Thanks for the info. It will be interesting to see what else is in the works.
Michael Beason
|
James Shelby
Member
|
Ponddude wrote: I am very impressed. The fountain controller looks like so much fun!!
Greg I'm going to second that, I'm thinking of 2009 now. Please Dan give us two years between new items, that will give give us time to buy it and build it without any distractions.
|
Bob Densic
Member
|
Any chance we may see LOR offer some fast acting water valves? I'd love to build a computer controlled graphic waterfall in my house. Tie it in to a couple of LOR controllers... Nice!
|
Dennis Cherry
Member
|
Bob Densic wrote: Any chance we may see LOR offer some fast acting water valves? I'd love to build a computer controlled graphic waterfall in my house. Tie it in to a couple of LOR controllers... Nice!
Cal Pumps makes one. You get three pumps and three islands with three MR-16 lights per island. The controller is not that good but the pump lights and islands are fine.
The pumps are just regular small pond pumps with water tight connectors.
Used this two years ago in a Christmas display.
http://www.calpump.com/products.asp?category=34
Check it out.
|
Bob Densic
Member
|
Thanks Dennis. I'll look into those. I think we'll need something quicker to control a single small jetted oriface. Specifically I'm trying to recreate something similar to this.
http://www.pevnickdesign.com/
Much smaller scale of course. In order to get the graphics to appear clean, we'll need response times in the hundredths of a second.
|
-klb-
LOR II Beta Testers
| Joined: | Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | The Colony, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1045 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
I'm not sure how much pressure they are using there... Some of the patters show quite a bit of stretch from gravity acceleration, but other's don't seem to...
If it is just gravity acceleration, it may be a row of orifices in the supply tray with an array of solenoids pulling needle valves out of the orifices, and allowing the low pressure from the depth of the tray to push the water through the orifice.
Beyond that, the next step is direct solenoid valves, rather than the water piloted valves that are so common. In a small enough valve, the solenoid and return spring is capable of enough pressure to start and stop the flow without using the force multiplication of a water driven diaphragm. There are at least a couple of down sides to this approach. First, I doubt they are using much pressure, or in combination with gravity, your elements would be moving down way to fast.. With low pressure, if there is much length to your valved plumbing, the inertia is going to be a problem.. The end of your stream may reach the ground before the start of your stream.. Similarly, any mismatch in plumbing length from one nozzle to another is also going to cause problems...
For some reason, I think I had seen a patent on the gravity fed design when I was looking around a year or two ago.. Not sure exactly what part of it was not considered existing practice...
- Kevin
|
Steve Constantino
Member
|
I know that the new DIO32 board has digital inputs, But can they be configured to play, pause, stop and select different sequences if they are being played off my PC.
Steve
|
msbreton
Member
| Joined: | Sat Aug 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | 95630, California USA |
| Posts: | 21 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Is there any way we can get more details on the fountain controller early? How will it connect to the LoR network? Will it work with S2 now or will there need to be an S2 upgrade? Will pumps be sold at the same time from LoR or should we plan on using any magnetic pump?
Sorry for all the questions but I'm in the middle of putting together plans to add a simple 4 pump water effect to my show this year and I'm very excited to see this. Just in time too as I was just about to order 3 more pumps.
I'll hold off for now in hopes to hearing more soon.
-Mike
|
LightORamaJohn
One of your administrators
|
msbreton wrote: Is there any way we can get more details on the fountain controller early? How will it connect to the LoR network? Will it work with S2 now or will there need to be an S2 upgrade? Will pumps be sold at the same time from LoR or should we plan on using any magnetic pump?
-Mike
It appears on the LOR network just like any other LOR controller. It has unit address switches and network connections just like a LOR1602W. The first three channels control three 120 VAC sockets designed for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM.) You must not plug other types of devices into these sockets. The pump motor is part of the circuit.
PMSM refers to the motor technology and is the type commonly used in pond pumps. The type of motor to impeller connection (magnetic or solid) is not relevant. We are negotiating with a US distributor to sell pumps that we know work well. We have found that Split-tube PMSM pumps that have rigidly (not magnetically) attached impellers work very well and are very efficient.
This controller does not require S2. The channels are manipulated just like lighting channels except that twinkle and shimmer are not supported because they would be really rough on the motors. On, off, %level and fade up/down work as expected.
|
msbreton
Member
| Joined: | Sat Aug 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | 95630, California USA |
| Posts: | 21 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Thanks for the info.
Will the fountain controler connect to an existing 16 channel box via CAT5?
-Mike
|
LightORamaJohn
One of your administrators
|
msbreton wrote: Thanks for the info.
Will the fountain controler connect to an existing 16 channel box via CAT5?
-Mike
Yes, all of our controllers connect together using Cat5 cable. You can have any mix of LOR controllers on one LOR network.
|
msbreton
Member
| Joined: | Sat Aug 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | 95630, California USA |
| Posts: | 21 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Thanks again John.
Last question. I have a 16 chan unit on order specificly to drive some pumps (on / off). I've been testing one pump like this with several of my existing seqs for a while now and it seems to work well.
BUT
You new product sounds like a better way to go. Do you agree that it is a better way to control pumps or given the same pump type could I use a standard 16 chan unit to get the same results at maybe a higher cost due to the number of chans?
The reason I'm asking is, if the new product is *the* way to go for pump control, I may want to cancel my order for the 16 chan and redirect those funds to the fountain controller.
Thanks again for your responses!
|
buynow42
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jun 28th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
if your looking for pumps this site has the best prices ive found.
http://www.oceanmistmaker.com/pumpwholesales.html
hope this helps
art
|
FandomFilms
Member
| Joined: | Sun Jul 8th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 19 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
I'm working on putting some servos into my display for this year. When will the DIO32 board specs be available to check out? Any more information on this product would be great.
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
Yeah, August is rapidly closing. Any ideas when the new stuff will be released, or at least when more information will be provided?
|
Mountainwxman
LOR II Beta Testers
|
I'm very interested in the interactive input card.
|
NWSanta
Member
|
Bummer,
I read and read and was hoping to read something about a Servo Card.
Guess for now I'll have to go this route..
http://parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampModules/tabid/134/txtSearch/servo/List/1/catpageindex/2/ProductID/346/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName
Thanks for letting us know about the other stuff though
Evan
|
barbosaa
Member
|
Hi Guys
I saw the musical funtains and its very Beautifull
I want some one like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrQgcXw7nrk
HO HO HO....
Attachment: lor_48_lightgray_red.gif (Downloaded 433 times)
|
Dr. Jones
Member
|
Evan
I like your idea - i was looking into an EFX-TEK prop2, but I think i may get the parralax and conrtrol it from a cc off of lor
chris
|
-klb-
LOR II Beta Testers
| Joined: | Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | The Colony, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1045 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
NWSanta wrote: Bummer,
I read and read and was hoping to read something about a Servo Card.
Guess for now I'll have to go this route..
http://parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampModules/tabid/134/txtSearch/servo/List/1/catpageindex/2/ProductID/346/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName
Thanks for letting us know about the other stuff though
Evan
That is interesting. All the prior posts about the DIO-32 card have indicated servo control. Interesting that this is the first post about it that does not mention servo control as one of the features..
- Kevin
|
Steve Saunders
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jul 9th, 2007 |
| Location: | Moultrie, Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 83 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
-klb- wrote: That is interesting. All the prior posts about the DIO-32 card have indicated servo control. Interesting that this is the first post about it that does not mention servo control as one of the features..
- Kevin
Kevin, I went back to the very first post on this thread and re-read all the way. In the very first post at the bottom there is a note that there will be a daughter card for servo control. There are no other posts here that indicate that it has been dropped. Some may be trying to locate an alternative, to be able to plan and program with ample time before Halloween. (IMO)
-Steve
|
Denny
Member
|
NWSanta wrote: Bummer,
I read and read and was hoping to read something about a Servo Card.
Guess for now I'll have to go this route..
http://parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampModules/tabid/134/txtSearch/servo/List/1/catpageindex/2/ProductID/346/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName
Thanks for letting us know about the other stuff though
Evan
Evan,
That is my back-up plan also. Do you plan to use the VSA software with the card? http://www.brookshiresoftware.com/vsa_overview.htm I have read quite a few reviews on this software and from what I have read so far, it definitely seems like the easy way to do and synchronize animatronics.
|
NWSanta
Member
|
Hey Denny,
Yah that was the Software I was looking at. My Wife is the one doing Halloween So I wanted something simple yet powerful and I think that's the way to go... I don't mind spending money on software if it's going to do what we want it to do.
-Evan
|
NWSanta
Member
|
LightORamaJohn wrote: Here are the products to be delivered in August & September:
Edit: Forgot to mention that the DIO32 has headers on it allowing 16 servos to be controlled by two of the 8-channel ports.
Hmm, I must have missed this. I would love to test this out to see how it works!!!!
Hell I don't even mind being a beta tester for this one!
Cheers
Evan
|
Denny
Member
|
Evan,
If the software is as good as all the reviews and users say, I think $60 is a bargain price. Can't be too difficult to use, this guy ( http://animatronicsworkshop.com/Backstage.html ) teaches animatronics to 6th, 7th, & 8th graders. The kids do it all from building the figures to programming them with VSA. I found an inexpensive place for servos, starting from $6.00 (http://store.polkshobby.com/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=takestock/search.html?ItemNum=&ProdLine=Any&ItemDescript=servo&MultiSearch=++Search++&conum=002&HideFld2=Any%3BAny%3BAny%3BAny%3B%3B%3B
I have dealt with them before with G-Gauge trains (Aristocraft). They have a company philosophy like LOR and bend over backwards for the customer. All I need now is the board. I am not doing a Halloween show, but once I get Christmas up and running this year, I want to get into animatronics experimentation hot and heavy. Already have enough lights and channels, I been wanting to get into the animatronics for a couple years now. Have been waiting for the anticipated LOR board for a while now. If it's not out by the end of the year, I will go with the Parallax board as it has really good recommendations on several sites also. Just need to figure out how to trigger the animatronics programming with LOR.
|
FandomFilms
Member
| Joined: | Sun Jul 8th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 19 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Thanks for the servos link. I just paid $30 for a metal gear, high speed, high torque servo for my project. If you want to see something cool check out these links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-F6ZJEcsq0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3h7fkWGkKg&feature=related
and here's the kits: http://www.graveyardmadness.com/store/index.php?productID=124
|
NWSanta
Member
|
OOOOoo that Bucky kit is cool!
I'm pretty sure that's what my Wife wants to do. I think that we may go with a seperate system as she wants the skulls to be doing something different than the Singing Pumkins that LOR is running.
If we used LOR For everything we'd have to have 2 laptops running LOR with 2 USB Controllers. Oh well, she's already commented that we don't have time to do it this year so we'll pace ourselves and see what happens for next year.
Cheers
Evan
|
DanglinModifiers
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 41 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Are these new products still on schedule?
|
Donald Puryear
Member
|
still looking for IO board for halloween.
|
DanglinModifiers
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 41 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Hate to be a pain... but the suspense is killing me!
|
Theron Schaefermeyer
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 6 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
LightORamaJohn wrote: Here are the products to be delivered in August & September:
4) 9 channel fountain controller. Controls up to 3 PMSM pumps and 6 channels of LED lighting. Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor pumps are the type most commonly used in fountains and ponds. Both pumps and lights controlled from barely on to full power. LOR plans to offer both submersible pumps and submersible LED lighting.
I am very excited to see the the announcement of a fountain controller! Why did you say LED channels? Are these channels specifically designed to control high power super bright LEDs such as the LUXEON Star or K2? (I hope)
I'm planning a fountain for this year's display and am wondering about the capabilities of this card and (of course) availability.
A littile more info please - please- please?
Theron
|
John Warren
Member
|
Any word on the "Chime-O-Matic" that was mentioned by lightoramajohn in June? I thought it might be nice to program it for the carrol of the bells.
John
|
joshua
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jul 24th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ingalls, Indiana USA |
| Posts: | 55 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
are they really going to bring back the strip light controllers that i wanted so bad 3 years ago?
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
Dan...any update at all on these new products?
I know post-LOR 2 you are cautious about giving out dates, and I can understand this, but are we going to see any of these things this year?
|
iresq
Member
| Joined: | Wed Dec 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Annapolis, MD |
| Posts: | 818 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Ponddude wrote: Dan...any update at all on these new products?
I know post-LOR 2 you are cautious about giving out dates, and I can understand this, but are we going to see any of these things this year?
+1 and the firmware/feature update?
|
Donald Puryear
Member
|
Dan:
Is it possible to leak out a little more info on the new products. I would love to see Documentation on the new products. This would help with designing other equipment for Halloween. I won't ask for a date, I know how dates can come back and bite you in the A**.
Thanks in advance Donald Puryear
|
LightORamaJohn
One of your administrators
|
Donald Puryear wrote: Is it possible to leak out a little more info on the new products. I would love to see Documentation on the new products. This would help with designing other equipment for Halloween. I won't ask for a date, I know how dates can come back and bite you in the A**.
The Network Repeater is done and available in the store under accessories. Here is the document:
http://www.lightorama.com/Documents/LOR-Rep_Man.pdf
Here is the latest (preliminary) copy of the DIO32 manual. I think the verbiage is correct for the production boards, but I don't have pictures of the production board. I will most likely make some minor wording changes, expand the sections on the daughter boards and do a much better job with the photo diagrams. Anyway, this is an accurate description of the DIO32.
http://www.lightorama.com/Documents/DIO32_Man_Web.pdf
The isolated USB adapter has also been completed and will be available for Christmas this year. I haven't had a chance to produce a document for it yet. There's not really that much to say about it, it's like a regular USB adapter, except that the PC is isolated from the LOR network (thousands of volts of isolation.)
I have not had a chance to produce something I would consider presentable for the Chime-O-Matic or the Fountain Controller.
I completed the hardware design of the Fountain Controller last spring. Prototypes have been in use in test environments since June and they have exceeded our expectations.
Likewise, I finished the hardware design and testing of early prototyping for the CoM last July.
I'm sorry I announced the Fountain & CoM. Dan and I discussed these two items and really thought we would have the time to get them out before the Christmas rush overtook us. Unfortunately, for us, the Christmass rush starts in August.
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
Well the ideas are already starting for next years show!! That is some great information. Thanks for the update John.
Any idea on prices yet?
|
Donald Puryear
Member
|
THANK YOU, looking for the sale on new items.
|
DanglinModifiers
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 41 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
John, thanks so much for posting that information! It's great to see what exactly the DIO board will be capable of, and how it will do it.
I promise I'll now wait patiently for it's release (though I am curious as to a ballpark price.)
|
Steve Constantino
Member
|
I know that the new DIO32 board has digital inputs, But can they be configured to play, pause, stop and select different musical sequences if they are being played off my PC.
Just an example:
I/O 1 plays musical sequence 1
I/O 2 plays musical sequence 2
I/O 3 plays musical sequence 3
I/O 4 Pause
I/O 5 Stop
Or will the digital inputs only trigger a non musical sequence that is downloaded to the controller.
Steve
|
LightORamaDan
One of your administrators
| Joined: | Tue Jun 26th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1342 |
| Picture: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Steve Constantino wrote: I know that the new DIO32 board has digital inputs, But can they be configured to play, pause, stop and select different musical sequences if they are being played off my PC.
Just an example:
I/O 1 plays musical sequence 1
I/O 2 plays musical sequence 2
I/O 3 plays musical sequence 3
I/O 4 Pause
I/O 5 Stop
Or will the digital inputs only trigger a non musical sequence that is downloaded to the controller.
Steve
Steve,
You will be able to control things at the PC. There will not be a "pause" button but there will be the other things that you mentioned. You will be able to start musical sequences and stop them. There will be options that determine if a muical seqeunce can be interrupted by another button or not. As far as stopping it, you would do so by putting in short animation sequence (1/10 second long) that turns out the lights. It would be associated with your stop button. A button will be associated with a sequence thus the need for a "stop sequence" as described above.
|
Steve Constantino
Member
|
That's grate. Thanks Dan
Steve
|
lesm
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 6th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 19 |
| Picture: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
hi dan
i was wondering have you worked out a way to control the mc-tb08 with the Dio-32.
i remember you saying that the patch lead on the mc-tb08 is 10 pin and i think the dio-32 is 14.
what should i do about connetions and when will the dio-32 be available for sale.
thanks les m , uk
|
LightORamaDan
One of your administrators
| Joined: | Tue Jun 26th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1342 |
| Picture: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
lesm wrote: hi dan
i was wondering have you worked out a way to control the mc-tb08 with the Dio-32.
i remember you saying that the patch lead on the mc-tb08 is 10 pin and i think the dio-32 is 14.
what should i do about connetions and when will the dio-32 be available for sale.
thanks les m , uk
Hi Les,
It will take a little rigging but the DIO32 will control the mc-tb08. It will require the 10 wire ribbon cable be spliced into the 16 wire ribbon cable that comes out of the DIO32. We can show you the correct wiring.
Dan
|
lesm
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 6th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 19 |
| Picture: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
thanks dan
|
Jeff Juneman
Member
|
Is it safe to say that the DIO32 board and accessories will not be available for purchase until after the New Year?
|
lesm
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 6th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 19 |
| Picture: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
it may look like it, i been waiting for few years for the dio 32.
les m
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
What about the indoor channel controller power strip thingy....
Any news on that?
|
Jeff Millard
LOR II Beta Testers
|
Jeff Juneman wrote: Is it safe to say that the DIO32 board and accessories will not be available for purchase until after the New Year?
I have a feeling it'll be sooner than that...
I found a little problem with my hardware that might make it incompatable with the DIO32. This issue is only with the output of the card. My solid state realys are homemade using circuit boards designed by the folks in DIY land. They bus source and control sink. What that means is the opto couplers that switch the AC circuit on and off have +5V bussed between them, and the sink (0V) is applied to switch an individual channel on. There's a couple reasons this is desirable. The first is compatability with DIY hardware... not that it matters here. Another reason is the fact that PCI DIO cards have a high current version of the card that sinks output at 64ma, it's source output is only 16ma. Much more capacity when using a low to switch.
The issue here is if you try to use common readily available DIY SSRs, they are on when the LOR channel is off... LOR sources output from DIO cards and I believe it does the same with the new DIO32. I discussed this issue I have with Dan and John. Dan hinted at a workaround for my PCI card problem... and John suggested a DIP switch fix for the DIO32. Anyone who is thinking about using common SSRs outside of the stuff provided by LOR needs to think about the way they are connected until a solution is resolved. I made an inverter for my first 48 channels. It wasn't a cheap solution in any way. The inverter was a ULN2803 chip that has 8 Darlington Pairs in each. It flips the output and carries the load of the optos. I don't know if it would work with the DIO32 but I'm not really sure without trying it first. That would require having a DIO32 in hand...
Jeff
|
Jeff Millard
LOR II Beta Testers
|
Jeff Juneman wrote: Is it safe to say that the DIO32 board and accessories will not be available for purchase until after the New Year?
Here... read for yourself... 
|
garyfunk
Member
|
And more news on the new items. I am really interested in the 9 channel fountain controller.
|
FBW4
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jul 7th, 2007 |
| Location: | Gulfport, MS |
| Posts: | 66 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Now (that everything is up and COOL) is the time to convince the spouse that fountain pumps and controllers are cool too. So any news would be great.
|
msbreton
Member
| Joined: | Sat Aug 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | 95630, California USA |
| Posts: | 21 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
I wanted to update folks on my fountain experience this season as as as pose a question to LoR on their future fountain controller and pump line.
Back in the summer of 08 when I started working on my fountain plans and heard about LoR's future release, I choose not to wait (good thing) and went with a std 16 channel controller. I knew I wouldn't be able to vary the speed of my pumps but after testing in the pool I decided that was ok.
I used standard magnetic drive fountain pumps in hopes that I'd later be able to use them with LoR's future controller.
All in all, they looked pretty good and ran for "about" 6 weeks nightly but I did have to do repairs and at the end of the season, the pumps had all (literally) destroyed themselves.
Here's the issue. Magnetic drive pumps have a tendency to not always startup in the right direction. When the spin the wrong way, water flows in the reverse direction. The way the manufacture of the pumps I used prevents this is by including a small latch next to the impeller and when it spins the wrong way it catches and stops it. Not much of an issue when you use these for a fountain as you notice this right away and can unplug / plug it back in until it starts up correctly. Then you leave it that way, forever.
But, when you have a controller, turning the pumps on/off hundreds, if not thousands of times a night, you end up hitting that catch a LOT. Eventually, my pumps it it so many times the case cracked on two of them. I removed the catch and repaired the case to get me though the season but during the last week two more pumps had their catch rip right though the entire case and end up loose in the water. Oh well, lesson learned.
Anyway, my big question for LoR is how are you going to deal with this issue with the pumps you sell? One way would be to just not have a catch but regardless, a magnetic drive pump will not always start (say 50/50) in the right direction and that's going to impact the expected outcome.
Next year I think I'll look into how I can have just one always running larger pump feeding quick response valves I can somehow control. Any suggestions?
Thanks and Happy New Year!
|
FBW4
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jul 7th, 2007 |
| Location: | Gulfport, MS |
| Posts: | 66 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Not all pumps have that problem. Some solve it with a different type impeller, some with flow detectors, and lots of other ways.
Would not think LOR would sell pumps that could not stand the on/off duty cycle of what an LOR system would create.
But interesting that you had that problem and something for me to watch as I contemplate a water system as well.
Thanks for your post.
RW
|
Dennis Cherry
Member
|
msbreton wrote: I wanted to update folks on my fountain experience this season as as as pose a question to LoR on their future fountain controller and pump line.
Back in the summer of 08 when I started working on my fountain plans and heard about LoR's future release, I choose not to wait (good thing) and went with a std 16 channel controller. I knew I wouldn't be able to vary the speed of my pumps but after testing in the pool I decided that was ok.
I used standard magnetic drive fountain pumps in hopes that I'd later be able to use them with LoR's future controller.
All in all, they looked pretty good and ran for "about" 6 weeks nightly but I did have to do repairs and at the end of the season, the pumps had all (literally) destroyed themselves.
Here's the issue. Magnetic drive pumps have a tendency to not always startup in the right direction. When the spin the wrong way, water flows in the reverse direction. The way the manufacture of the pumps I used prevents this is by including a small latch next to the impeller and when it spins the wrong way it catches and stops it. Not much of an issue when you use these for a fountain as you notice this right away and can unplug / plug it back in until it starts up correctly. Then you leave it that way, forever.
But, when you have a controller, turning the pumps on/off hundreds, if not thousands of times a night, you end up hitting that catch a LOT. Eventually, my pumps it it so many times the case cracked on two of them. I removed the catch and repaired the case to get me though the season but during the last week two more pumps had their catch rip right though the entire case and end up loose in the water. Oh well, lesson learned.
Anyway, my big question for LoR is how are you going to deal with this issue with the pumps you sell? One way would be to just not have a catch but regardless, a magnetic drive pump will not always start (say 50/50) in the right direction and that's going to impact the expected outcome.
Next year I think I'll look into how I can have just one always running larger pump feeding quick response valves I can somehow control. Any suggestions?
Thanks and Happy New Year!
Why could you not just keep the pump running at a slow RPM? instead of ON/OFF just do a intensity like 100%/10%. this way pump rotation remains the same.
Just a thought.
|
FBW4
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jul 7th, 2007 |
| Location: | Gulfport, MS |
| Posts: | 66 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
I have been planning on using one larger pump with a bypass/relief valve and just using solenoid controlled valves with heads.
But for a small display, I can see where you would want to use individual pumps and it probably would not be cool to have water dribbling out at 10% setting. Someone could try it though I guess.
Sure would like to get A LOT OF POSTS from people who have been tinkering with the fountains this year to get a feel for what to expect/ lessons learned/ best practices... etc.
I know it is a lot of work to post it and I thank you all in advance.
RW
|
LightORamaJohn
One of your administrators
|
PMSM pump motors can start up in either direction so they have a little flapper (rubber or metal) that allows the water to flow out the exit regardless of the spin direction. The pumps we work with do not force the motor to spin in one direction.
The valve is very simple and durable so it has not been a problem in 6 months of daily running. Additionally, since we are controlling the speed, the full stop/start sequences can be avoided. Keeping the pump running at a burble is easier on it. We are shooting for a pump life of 2-3 years with properly designed sequences.
|
Scott Keon
Member
|
John,
when will we be able to purchase the new products. I am interested in the Dio32
|
tomskillman
Member
|
I too am interested in the DIO board...
|
garyfunk
Member
|
LightORamaJohn wrote: We are shooting for a pump life of 2-3 years with properly designed sequences.
Those three little words worry me.
|
DanCampbell
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Cumming, Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 117 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
garyfunk wrote: LightORamaJohn wrote: We are shooting for a pump life of 2-3 years with properly designed sequences.
Those three little words worry me. Perhaps an enhancement to the sequence editor/channel config could impose minimum ramp up/down times?
|
machtoo
Member
|
Dan had indicated that a multi servo controller board was coming this year. Any udpate on this one?
Dean
|
cenote
Member
|
msbreton wrote: Magnetic drive pumps have a tendency to not always startup in the right direction. When the spin the wrong way, water flows in the reverse direction.
Little confused, I think I use these pumps daily in my business for pond features. Can't say I every noticed any of them starting up backwards. My pumps turn on and off daily, and never noticed no water coming out of them. The pumps you used, are they just standard off the shelf pumps at dept stores for ponds?
If I am crazy and wrong, I applogize in advance. Just wondering, because I had ideas I wanted to do this summer in one of my ponds for a show using LOR.
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
Not to belabor the point, but is there any more information about the new boards...more specifically the DIO board? I really could use a release date or at least a fairly accurate time frame...a week, a month, a year??
Just trying to plan out the projects for this year and I really need a servo board that can control a lot of servos...ie the DIO board.
|
jstein
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 |
| Location: | Deer Park, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 97 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
I'm getting so antsy wondering myself when the new items will be released!
|
garyfunk
Member
|
Ponddude wrote: Not to belabor the point, but is there any more information about the new boards...more specifically the DIO board? I really could use a release date or at least a fairly accurate time frame...a week, a month, a year??
Just trying to plan out the projects for this year and I really need a servo board that can control a lot of servos...ie the DIO board.
Yes, well, we all need and want that. I'm betting if Dan knew, he'd tell us. After all, he is in the business to make a profit and feed his family.
|
-klb-
LOR II Beta Testers
| Joined: | Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | The Colony, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1045 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
cenote wrote: msbreton wrote: Magnetic drive pumps have a tendency to not always startup in the right direction. When the spin the wrong way, water flows in the reverse direction.
Little confused, I think I use these pumps daily in my business for pond features. Can't say I every noticed any of them starting up backwards. My pumps turn on and off daily, and never noticed no water coming out of them. The pumps you used, are they just standard off the shelf pumps at dept stores for ponds?
If I am crazy and wrong, I applogize in advance. Just wondering, because I had ideas I wanted to do this summer in one of my ponds for a show using LOR.
A lot of them have non directional volutes, (so the term really does not apply) so that they have poor but equal pumping efficiency in both directions.
|
Denny
Member
|
Ponddude wrote: Not to belabor the point, but is there any more information about the new boards...more specifically the DIO board? I really could use a release date or at least a fairly accurate time frame...a week, a month, a year??
Just trying to plan out the projects for this year and I really need a servo board that can control a lot of servos...ie the DIO board.
I am in the same boat as I have been waiting for the servo board to experiment with animatronics. I found a dmx controlled servo board that may fill the requirement and should be controllable with the idmx 1000. http://home.att.net/~northlightsystems/DMX512toRCservo.htm
What do you think?
|
jstein
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 |
| Location: | Deer Park, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 97 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Still no word on the release date of the DIO32?
|
garyfunk
Member
|
jstein wrote: Still no word on the release date of the DIO32?
I think I heard him say it wil be before February 29th.Last edited on Sun Jan 18th, 2009 06:39 pm by garyfunk |
lesm
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 6th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 19 |
| Picture: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
i hope this year.
if not dasher again.
|
Jeff Millard
LOR II Beta Testers
|
garyfunk wrote: I think I heard him say it wil be before February 29th.
I hope so. I'd really like to have a chance to cypher everything out cleanly, rather than rush at the end of the year...
Jeff
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
garyfunk wrote:
jstein wrote: Still no word on the release date of the DIO32?
I think I heard him say it wil be before February 29th.
Where did we hear this?
|
jstein
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 |
| Location: | Deer Park, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 97 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Ponddude wrote: garyfunk wrote:
jstein wrote: Still no word on the release date of the DIO32?
I think I heard him say it wil be before February 29th.
Where did we hear this?
I was wondering the same thing because I haven't hear any release dates yet.
|
garyfunk
Member
|
Come on guys, February 29th. Look at a calendar.
|
jstein
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 |
| Location: | Deer Park, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 97 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
garyfunk wrote: Come on guys, February 29th. Look at a calendar.
OH, haha I got you now!
|
garyfunk
Member
|
For those of you that don't understand, February 29th is in 2012.
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
LMAO...wow I am slow...
Good one though.
|
Jeff Millard
LOR II Beta Testers
|
Gary hit me with a PM right after I posted... I thought about publicly offering up the egg I was washing off my face... but then I wondered if I was the only one... so I left it alone to see what the outcome would be...
I don't feel so bad now. 
Jeff
|
DanCampbell
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Cumming, Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 117 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Let's hope it really isn't the next 2/29. 
I probably missed it, but has there been any word on the price of the DIO32?
|
garyfunk
Member
|
DanCampbell wrote: Let's hope it really isn't the next 2/29.
I probably missed it, but has there been any word on the price of the DIO32?
I think I heard him say it wil be less than $10,000.
|
DanCampbell
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Cumming, Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 117 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Sweeeet! Put me down for 4, then.
|
Jeff Millard
LOR II Beta Testers
|
My guess is that it will be the same as the iDMX. I have no basis in fact for my guess. It's plain and simple guessing...
I hope I didn't just cause them to add $100 to the price they were originally going to use...
Jeff
|
DanCampbell
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Cumming, Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 117 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Jeff Millard wrote: My guess is that it will be the same as the iDMX. I have no basis in fact for my guess. It's plain and simple guessing...
I hope I didn't just cause them to add $100 to the price they were originally going to use...
Jeff
We'll see, I guess.
Right now I'm thinking that one of the pci dio cards and homemade ssr's may be the way to add a mess of inexpensive on/off channels. I don't see us using DMX in the next couple of years.
I'm dreaming, of a Grinch plugin for S2...
|
Jeff Millard
LOR II Beta Testers
|
I have 144 DIO channels on 3 PCI DIO boards and three 48 channel breakout boards I had manufactured, that mate up to the DIY 4 channel SSRs. I also have a Protel file made, without the traces added to the 10pin headers. It will mate up the DIO32 to the DIY SSRs. That way I'll be able to mix and match them.
I have an idea that there were some changes made to the design of the DIO32 and that's what's holding it up. I just remember John saying something in PM about adding some dip switches to invert output... I don't know if that ever happened.
Jeff
|
lesm
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 6th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 19 |
| Picture: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
so hopefully we should have it this year ?
les m
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
I am really interested in knowing how it will work in the SE so I can begin working on my mouth movements for my snowman. At least I can have a rough sequence ready for when the board does come out. In the preliminary version of the manual there is nothing listed about how to do the work within the SE.
|
jstein
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 |
| Location: | Deer Park, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 97 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Do you think it might be movement based on a percentage? I don't know if you have worked with VSA but if I remember right you put in like the degree of movement. It could be either one, but I bet it is movement by percentage. But maybe not, I just hope it is released by the time the sale gets here. That should give most people enough time to synchronize some stuff for Christmas, and I will even use it for Halloween.
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
Well I figure it will work just like the Servos on the CTB-08D, so I am guessing 0 is all the way one direction, 50 is center and 100 is all the way in the other direction. I just want to see how the controller shows up in the SE as well.
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
Because this is a Digital I/O board does that mean the servos I should buy are digital? I know there are analog and digital servos, so I am guessing the digital ones are the ones I want.
|
-klb-
LOR II Beta Testers
| Joined: | Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | The Colony, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1045 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Ponddude wrote: Because this is a Digital I/O board does that mean the servos I should buy are digital? I know there are analog and digital servos, so I am guessing the digital ones are the ones I want.
Actually, the "analog" servos are controlled by PWM.. The signal is fully on/off. Just the width of the signal is what is "analog" and the digital IO can generate that easily. As far as I know, the digital servos all use proprietary protocols, and are not compatible with each other... So, I believe the DIO card uses standard analog servos.
As for how it shows up in the sequence editor, according to the preliminary manual, there is a jumper to select two different options. One is legacy mode, where it shows up as two adjacent 16 channel controllers.. The other is, I believe, advanced mode, where it shows up as a single 32 channel controller, but this will not work until a version of S2 is released with support for higher channel count controllers..
|
Jeff Millard
LOR II Beta Testers
|
Here's a nice post I really enjoyed reading.
Jeff
|
Donald Puryear
Member
|
Any news about the new boards????
Would like to start planning Halloween.
|
-klb-
LOR II Beta Testers
| Joined: | Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | The Colony, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1045 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
The latest I have seen is in Jeff's link above...
|
taybrynn
Member
|
Can someone explain to me what the big deal around DIO32 is?
Will this be a cheaper way to add channels than through traditional 16ch LOR controllers?
What are the Pros and Cons of the DIO32?
Does this card enable a more distributed controller design, like the Renard64 ?
It sounds that way to me, since I've heard it can use external SSR(s).
I'm not really interested in the input aspects, but more wondering if the DIO32 is an alternative to the traditional controller design that LOR has been using.
Thanks,
Scott
Last edited on Thu Feb 5th, 2009 08:23 pm by taybrynn |
-klb-
LOR II Beta Testers
| Joined: | Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | The Colony, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1045 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
The big thing a lot of people are really wanting is the ability to drive a large number of servos, instead of just two on a CTB08D...
But it does also have a range of output options, like relays, and high current triacs, which will allow it to compete with AL on some high power projects. If you have a 60 foot artificial tree with C9 lights on it, the lower panels can take a lot of power...
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
I'm gonna start poking a dead horse...yet again.
Any ideas on the release date on these cards yet? I don't even care about a sale now, I just need the board. I have started on my servo controlled, animated snowman, and I really need to control the servos...lol
I also am now very interested in using the digital inputs as well, which will make my life a lot easier for my security proposes.
I know a few months ago the cards were manufactured and testing was going on, but again, that was a few months ago.
Any update would be really nice and certainly appreciated.
|
lesm
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 6th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 19 |
| Picture: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
the first time i heard about dio-32 was in 2005 so i think that says a lot.
my self i say the day after thank giving.
les m
|
Theron Schaefermeyer
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 6 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
I know the new 9 channel fountian controller is not released but I was wondering if there are any preliminary specifications available?
I've built a laminar fountain and want to begin designing the internal LED lighting using the Luxeon® Rebel RGB LEDs, but I don't know if the new board will support individual low voltage LEDs or just commercial 110v units.?.?
It's good to announce new products early to keep the market from going to alternative choices, but we need an additional teaser every now and again.
Thanks for all you're doing to support our crazy hobbies.
Theron
|
LightORamaJohn
One of your administrators
|
Theron Schaefermeyer wrote: I know the new 9 channel fountian controller is not released but I was wondering if there are any preliminary specifications available?
I am so sorry for the production delay of this device. The hardware has been in use and working very well for over a year. The Chinese production process has been excruciatingly slow. Here is a brochure I wrote for the device:
http://www.lightorama.com/Documents/MLC-100.pdf
|
cenote
Member
|
LightORamaJohn wrote:
I am so sorry for the production delay of this device. The hardware has been in use and working very well for over a year. The Chinese production process has been excruciatingly slow. Here is a brochure I wrote for the device:
http://www.lightorama.com/Documents/MLC-100.pdf
Extremely cool, Here comes 4th of July display.
Thanks for the info
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
The Chinese have about the same economic problems we have...were feeling it from every end...lol
However, that board looks rather impressive. Those capacitors are HUGE. I am looking at and can't seem to find the outputs. Does the board have two sides...AC and DC? How will the LED's attach? Will we be able to control RGB LED's via this device?
Now, is there a brochure for the DIO 32 as well?
|
Theron Schaefermeyer
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 6 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
John,
Thanks for the prompt reply. That was just the info I was looking for. Now I await your announcement of availability. . . . . or even limited availability.
Thanks
Theron
|
-klb-
LOR II Beta Testers
| Joined: | Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | The Colony, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1045 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Ponddude wrote: The Chinese have about the same economic problems we have...were feeling it from every end...lol
However, that board looks rather impressive. Those capacitors are HUGE. I am looking at and can't seem to find the outputs. Does the board have two sides...AC and DC? How will the LED's attach? Will we be able to control RGB LED's via this device?
Now, is there a brochure for the DIO 32 as well?
It usually takes some big capacitors to make variable frequency 120VAC for the pumps....
There appears to be a row of terminals across the top, that could be the DC channels, but difficult to tell for sure..
Probably the key specs to focus on are the 240W per pump limit, and the 1A per LED or 2.5A total limit on the 12V..
As for RGB support, with 6 channels, you would only get two RGB sets. However, from what is in the brochure, I don't see anything to indicate if you need common anode LEDs, like with the DC card, or common cathode, if the positive supply were switched. Of course, if you have six lead RGB LEDs, you are set to do it either way...
|
Davidt
Member
|
LightORamaJohn wrote: Here is a brochure I wrote for the device:
http://www.lightorama.com/Documents/MLC-100.pdf
John,
Thanks for the info. The brochure talks about support for 120VAC pumps. Do you know if the controller is designed to support 240VAC operation as well?
Cheers,
davidt, Australia
|
LightORamaJohn
One of your administrators
|
Davidt wrote: Thanks for the info. The brochure talks about support for 120VAC pumps. Do you know if the controller is designed to support 240VAC operation as well?
The fountain controller will be produced in two versions. One for 90-120 vac and one for 220-240 vac. There are a few component differences so this is not a jumper option.
The screw terminals on the upper right are for 6 channels of common anode LEDs -- very much like the CMB16D. There are quick connects near the left and right edges for the pump motors.
The DIO32 is actually in use commercially. It will be availabe during the June sale.
I wish I could give a date for the fountain controller, but am afraid because of the China manufacturing unknowns. Dan and I have spoken about a limited production run here in the US, but the board is quite complex so the build cost is higher than previous controllers and we're not sure if people want it that badly.
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
LightORamaJohn wrote:
Davidt wrote: Thanks for the info. The brochure talks about support for 120VAC pumps. Do you know if the controller is designed to support 240VAC operation as well?
The fountain controller will be produced in two versions. One for 90-120 vac and one for 220-240 vac. There are a few component differences so this is not a jumper option.
The screw terminals on the upper right are for 6 channels of common anode LEDs -- very much like the CMB16D. There are quick connects near the left and right edges for the pump motors.
The DIO32 is actually in use commercially. It will be availabe during the June sale.
I wish I could give a date for the fountain controller, but am afraid because of the China manufacturing unknowns. Dan and I have spoken about a limited production run here in the US, but the board is quite complex so the build cost is higher than previous controllers and we're not sure if people want it that badly.
Not to get off the topic of the fountain controller...cause I am sure I will own serveral of them at one point or another...but can we talk about the DIO32 a little more.
It's great to know that it will be on sale during June sale. However, do you have a completed manual, a pricing point or even an idea of an earlier release? I had spoken to Dan last week and he gave me a lot of great info regarding it. I just need one ASAP to run my 10 servos. The more info, the better I will be...I will even be able to start to sequence.
|
Davidt
Member
|
LightORamaJohn wrote: The fountain controller will be produced in two versions. One for 90-120 vac and one for 220-240 vac. There are a few component differences so this is not a jumper option.
Excellent news. Thanks for the info and quick reply John.
Cheers,
davidt, Australia
|
Theron Schaefermeyer
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 6 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
LightORamaJohn wrote: I wish I could give a date for the fountain controller, but am afraid because of the China manufacturing unknowns. Dan and I have spoken about a limited production run here in the US, but the board is quite complex so the build cost is higher than previous controllers and we're not sure if people want it that badly.
John,
I sent you a PM.
We're your target market, give us a balpark price for a limited US production run and I'm sure you'll find out our committment level.
I think we all understand that this board will not have the same universal appeal as the lighting and servo boards so recovering the engineering and design costs will also make the price higher. That being said, we're all a bunch of "do-it-yourselfers" so price is always a question.
BTW Is this board too complicated for a few "self assembly" units, perhaps without all the fancy step by step instructions?
Theron
|
Donald Puryear
Member
|
Have yoy read the DIO manual Yet?
http://www.lightorama.com/Documents/MLC-100.pdf
|
Dr. Jones
Member
|
I second the kit idea.
|
-klb-
LOR II Beta Testers
| Joined: | Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | The Colony, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1045 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
It would be an "interesting" kit to assemble, as it appears to be 90% SMT chips, including a pair what look to be at least 44 lead packages...
I'll pass on the kit...
|
Dr. Jones
Member
|
just a challenge
my toaster oven is ready
Last edited on Tue Mar 17th, 2009 02:42 am by Dr. Jones |
-klb-
LOR II Beta Testers
| Joined: | Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | The Colony, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1045 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
An electric griddle might work better, with those caps on there...
|
lesm
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 6th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 19 |
| Picture: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
any news when the dio-32 be out ?
les m
|
Jeff Millard
LOR II Beta Testers
|
lesm wrote: any news when the dio-32 be out ?
les m
LightORamaJohn wrote: The DIO32 is actually in use commercially. It will be availabe during the June sale.
By the time of the summer sale...
Jeff
Last edited on Wed Mar 25th, 2009 11:05 pm by Jeff Millard |
joshua
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jul 24th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ingalls, Indiana USA |
| Posts: | 55 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
joshua wrote: are they really going to bring back the strip light controllers that i wanted so bad 3 years ago?
any word on these at all. i heard someone mention them a while back but nothing since.
|
JBullard
Member
|
Are you referring to this item?
http://lightorama.com/Documents/LOR800D.pdf
|
joshua
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jul 24th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ingalls, Indiana USA |
| Posts: | 55 |
| Picture: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
YES! where did you find that? I really wanted one of these years ago but they never got released.
|
Ponddude
LOR II Beta Testers
|
I haven't heard anything more about those. I would certainly like one though...
All the documents from LOR can be found here...
http://lightorama.com/Documents/
|
robert cox
LOR II Beta Testers
|
Just a heads up for those planning on using on using the pump controllers. from my extensive background in saltwater fish tanks, Magnetic drive pumps do not like to go from on to off constantly. this will cause them to fail over time. most of the wavemaker controllers they sell simulate a quick fade up and down to protect the pumps. Keep this in mind when sequencing for these.
bob
msbreton wrote: Is there any way we can get more details on the fountain controller early? How will it connect to the LoR network? Will it work with S2 now or will there need to be an S2 upgrade? Will pumps be sold at the same time from LoR or should we plan on using any magnetic pump?
-Mike
It appears on the LOR network just like any other LOR controller. It has unit address switches and network connections just like a LOR1602W. The first three channels control three 120 VAC sockets designed for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM.) You must not plug other types of devices into these sockets. The pump motor is part of the circuit.
PMSM refers to the motor technology and is the type commonly used in pond pumps. The type of motor to impeller connection (magnetic or solid) is not relevant. We are negotiating with a US distributor to sell pumps that we know work well. We have found that Split-tube PMSM pumps that have rigidly (not magnetically) attached impellers work very well and are very efficient.
This controller does not require S2. The channels are manipulated just like lighting channels except that twinkle and shimmer are not supported because they would be really rough on the motors. On, off, %level and fade up/down work as expected.
|
